Some addicts, as individuals and types, will of course always require institutional and custodial handling. The handling of the addict who is criminal or vicious belongs within the province of the penological authorities, just as does the handling of any other man who is criminal or vicious. The handling of the addict who is fundamentally degenerate, defective or mentally weak may require the attention of the alienist and institutional restraint, just as may the handling of any other man who is degenerate or defective. Narcotic drug addiction-disease in the man who is vicious or criminal or defective or degenerate should be treated as narcotic drug addiction-disease, as any other disease is treated in the same individual. To our legislators and administrators and forces of penology, custody and correction rightfully belongs the problem of looking after the criminal and vicious addict as well as providing for the eradication of illicit, irresponsible, and “underground” traffic in narcotic drugs. If the illicit trafficker happens to be a physician he should have no more consideration at the hands of the law than any other criminal and in its action the law should have complete co-operation of the medical profession, which should see to it also that conscientious endeavor of its honest members is not confused in its consideration with illicit traffic and that the acts of the doctor shall be determined and estimated upon broad principles of medical practice and not upon violation of incidental technicalities. Great care should be taken that the sins of a guilty few are not visited upon the heads of a deserving many. Until there is available competent and adequate medical care for the honest narcotic addict sufficient in extent to meet the needs of the thousands of sufferers, and encouragement and protection as well as restriction is afforded to the honest physician, the illicit traffic will continue and grow, including in its toils many who would not otherwise seek it. Before we have further medical restrictions, we should have both medical and lay and official education. Over-emphasis on any aspect resulting in premature, narrow, ill-considered and ill-advised action only increases the complexity of the situation and defers final remedy. For as great and complicated a problem as narcotic drug addiction there will be found no special or specific panacea.